A lot of aquaponic systems use air pumps. So what is a aquaponic automation simulator without a air pump! Here is how it is handled and how it is connected up. This air pump comes standard on all the versions. The extra air line is for the planned 12V back-up configuration that is part of the pro version. Well underway on that unit and will have details soon.

This is a tube that runs from the top of the grow bed and in front of the RJ-45 top junction connection box and then down into water tank or fish tank.

This ‘Pass through port” actually has 3 functions:

First Function — is to allow the unit water tank or fish tank (if you have fish in it) to be filled with having to open the unit up.

Second Function — allow for your fish to be feed if you chose to add fish to the unit. I like Cory cats myself in it Green Emerald’s add a nice color contrast .

Third Function — Really the main reason I needed one. Being that these containers are sealed when fully locked down air cannot get into the bottom tank. This causes a problem with the drain valve. Water tank container will not allow draining from the grow bed container as a air is source needed to unlock the inside pressure of the closed container.

A big part of the aquaponic simulator is the fact that it uses standard RJ-45 jacks to interface with Arduino’s or a Raspberry PI. Having this type setup helps keep all the wires and connectors that are required for the unit to operate in a consistent manor safe and out of possible interaction with water elements.

Here is what is needed to construct this sub-assembly:

When all the above parts come together the finished product looks like this:

After much thinking about how I could improve the desktop aquaponic automation simulator called agponic-MD (micro-device) I built a new one. It helps to have people that wanted to purchase a few of them. So I got busy and made it a bit larger with expansion capability for future components like a 12V backup system and additional sensors to learn how to automate. Here is the feature set for the re-designed agponic-MD.

agponic MD
Fully valved for water movement and control
Large grow bed and tank configuration

Now that I have been building additional micro-devices for recent orders – I need to start doing a better job documenting how the build goes so I can duplicate the process as demand for the units is building (more on this in a later post). Here is the view of the draining mechanism that allows water exchange between media bed and water tank or fish tank in the real world.

An important aspect to making the agponic MD unit work is making sure the containers are water tight. There are a large number of holes made to accommodate the many mounting screws and allow sensor wires to pass from the tank container and grow bed container. Without addressing this issue early on one will only encounter leaks and problems once the unit is together.

STEP ONE — The parts

STEP TWO — Mark where the hole should be before drilling

STEP THREE — prep to drill

This is a very important step, if you do not take extra careful steps you will crack the plastic with the drill bit and you will be starting over. Support is needed behind the plastic.